CLEWxPOW

Snowboarding lives in nature. In cold winters, snow-covered mountains, and the opportunity to spend time outdoors. This connection to the mountains is an essential part of what makes the sport what it is – and it also shapes CLEW’s philosophy. As a company with its roots and identity firmly grounded in snowboarding, we believe it is our responsibility to protect the environment in which our sport takes place. It is from this conviction that CLEW works together with Protect Our Winters (POW) Germany. This partnership is therefore not a standalone sustainability project, but an expression of shared values and a common vision to preserve the mountains and their natural habitats for generations to come.

Protect Our Winters was founded in 2007 by snowboarder Jeremy Jones. Based on his personal experience with the changing conditions in the mountains, he developed the idea of mobilizing the winter sports and outdoor community to take action on climate change. Today, POW brings together athletes, scientists, businesses, and outdoor enthusiasts to work collectively to protect natural habitats and advocate for meaningful climate action. POW is not solely focused on changing individual behavior. The organization is primarily committed to driving social and political change. Its work is centered around three key areas: Education, Community, and Advocacy.

POW shares knowledge about climate and environmental protection and empowers people through workshops – for example, in schools and companies. At the same time, it brings the outdoor community together through events, summits, and shared activities. Through campaigns, petitions, public outreach, and direct dialogue with political decision-makers, POW also advocates for effective climate action and political change. At the heart of all of this is the concept of Imperfect Advocacy: POW believes that nobody needs to live a perfectly sustainable lifestyle in order to stand up for climate action. As an outdoor community, we are part of the challenge, but we can also be part of the solution. That is why it is about taking responsibility, learning together, and taking concrete steps: progress over perfection.

This mindset is also deeply rooted in CLEW. For us, responsibility does not begin with a finished product. It is already reflected in the way products are developed and manufactured. With our Made in Germany approach, we keep as many steps of development and production as possible in our own hands, allowing us to closely control materials, manufacturing processes, and quality. At the same time, our products are designed with longevity in mind and built to perform for the long term rather than needing to be replaced after a short period of time. For CLEW, progress therefore does not mean producing as much as possible, as quickly as possible. It means developing products that are built to last and manufactured with intention.

This is where a natural connection to POW emerges. While the two organizations take different approaches, they share a fundamental belief: the mountains are more than just the place where our sport takes place. They are natural habitats that need to be protected and preserved. For us as snowboarders, they are places of freedom, adventure, and community. They shape our culture and our memories and are a fundamental part of why we love this sport in the first place. Protecting their future therefore also means protecting a part of our own future.

Working with Protect Our Winters Germany gives CLEW the opportunity to take this commitment beyond our own product development and manufacturing. POW creates a platform where the outdoor community can come together to stand up for the protection of nature. CLEW wants to be part of this movement and take responsibility not only for the products we develop, but also for the environment in which they are used. Because the future of snowboarding will not be decided solely by the next binding, the next snowboard, or the next technical innovation. It will also depend on whether the snow-covered mountains, winters, and intact landscapes that define our sport will still exist in the future.

CLEW wants to do its part to bring both together: continuing to push the sport forward while protecting the natural environment that makes it possible and unique. The partnership with POW therefore represents a shared vision: a future in which people can still stand on snow-covered mountains many years from now, experience nature, and feel the freedom of snowboarding. Not because we want to preserve the past, but because we believe that progress and responsibility belong together. The mountains should remain for future generations what they are to us today – a place where people find freedom, push their limits, and feel connected to nature.

We look forward to sharing the first concrete steps of this collaboration soon.